How Does it Feel to Buy Fuel?

[prescat]

I know that when I miss the occasional exit, and the next one to get off and back is 4 or 5 miles away, I start calculating the loss. "Hmmm, 9-10 miles per gal, I just lost 4 dollars". Then I start yelling at myself....and my dogs go back to the bunk... I also know that the little side trips I used to take when I wanted to see something are out.



"Insert witty saying or other generic wisdom here!"

 

[TJ959]

It really is demoralizing to buy fuel today. The fuel surcharge should offset it but does it really?
OK so how many of you are compensated for a voluntary move to get to a better area? This is my main gripe. You take a decent load to an area that should be good but for some reason nothing is happening there. If you leave to a better spot, you are spending a lot of money to get there. If you stay, you are spending money and not earning. What do you do? With fuel at $4.00+ per gallon all the old habits have to change. You have to wonder if this even makes sense. I know with my company going to Laredo is no longer an option. It takes too long to get out and a lot of the freight offered is discounted. Deadheading out of there is just too expensive. How are your habits changing?

 

[OntarioVanMan]

In a Sprinter thats gets an average of 24mpg's we run a surplus FSC on nearly every load..That surplus helps pay down the DH that is not paid for...hence fueling up is not a problem.
When trucks pass me doing 70 plus I just shake my head...these are the guys whinning about the cost or they are company trucks with inconsiderate drivers...whentheir owner goes belly up they are the ones bad mouthing thier boss. They just don't think.

 

[hdxpedx]

nancy pelosi and harry reed are laughing at this post! They have LAP-TOPS in their limo's and the Seirra club's check is in the bank!!

 

[greg334]

Amazing... just amazing.....

You know I am not hurting from the price of fuel as I am as the price of gas for my wife's van, she has to drive 75 miles a day to go to and from work. Our gas bill has doubled and I can't write that off or get some FSC. This is where it hurts.

 

[ratwell71]

The big oil companies made their biggest profits in 2007. What does that tell you? To answer your question, it is sickening. Our weakened dollar doesn't go far. Five years ago our dollar was worth $1.60 in Canada now it is worth below a dollar.

It takes more of our dollars to buy oil because its value is worth about the same as the toilet paper you wipe your butt on. The Federal Reserve has played with interest rates and have printed more paper money to try to stabilize this failing economy; however, this crippled the real estate market as well as created a profittable business for the oil companies. What a joke? When Nixon closed the GOLD window during his term our dollar has dwindled every since. It is time to back our money with something of value.

 

[greg334]

The big oil companies made their biggest profits in 2007. What does that tell you? To answer your question, it is sickening. Our weakened dollar doesn't go far. Five years ago our dollar was worth $1.60 in Canada now it is worth below a dollar.

It takes more of our dollars to buy oil because its value is worth about the same as the toilet paper you wipe your butt on. The Federal Reserve has played with interest rates and have printed more paper money to try to stabilize this failing economy; however, this crippled the real estate market as well as created a profittable business for the oil companies. What a joke? When Nixon closed the GOLD window during his term our dollar has dwindled every since. It is time to back our money with something of value.

Ah.. money.... you know the reason they had such high profits is because of the low value of the dollar. In 1922, Farber also had huge profits but the value of those profits were lower than previous years because the value of the Papiermark was so to say worth less, hence the need to change over to the Reichmark. So the same thing can be applied to the situation of today, we can look at outrageous profits as part of class warfare or we can look at the bigger picture.

I agree with you about the federal reserve, their screwing up of the dollar has to do with short term gains for the stock market and the big housing companies and their investors and not a thing to do with saving people's homes. The facts seem to point that we the people will be paying for the lack of enforcement in the banking industry once again. No one seems to remember the keeting five, well no one enforced the laws that said you can't lend money on property at 120% of the value of the home - too much risk. I say raise the interest rates, strengthen the dollar and let the housing market adjust itself. Oh one other thing, if the housing market is so bad, why are they still building homes?

The fact is that we face a decision, either we can drill for oil and say to the people who want to do the impossible - stop global warming - that we have to secure the country first or we can continue down the path to ruin by stifling supply and innovation at the same time. I say screwed global warming, lets drill and drill often, then we can come up with ways to move off of oil onto something else.

 

[ratwell71]

Gregg,

I agree with you as well. We have the means to end our reliance on foreign oil. Since our fossil fuels are depleting I think we need to start creating more synthetic oils. We can grow fields and fields of soy beans as well as corn so we can rotate the crops so we do not deplete the nitrates in the soil. This way we have a plentiful supply of soy bean oil (diesel) and ethanol (gas). Even if this takes years to do it will end this oil issue. It will indeed pis* off the oil companies, but who cares!

The first issue needs to be the weakening dollar. Fix this and you fix most things.

 

[Moot]

This is a question not about the economy or the industry. It is a question about the personal experience (emotional, mental) of buying fuel at today's prices.

Kinda like a colonoscopy, but without the lubricant.

 

[greg334]

Kinda like a colonoscopy, but without the lubricant.

The question or the price of fuel?

 

[layoutshooter]

Bio-Fuel is running up the price of food all over the world, and it will get worse. There is not enough land to grow fuel and food. There is also no easy answer to the problem. Diesel from coal would be a good stop-gap but we need all new thinking. Hard to do in a country that discourges new thiinking. We even medicate kids that "think out of the box" As for how I feel when I buy fuel. I love it. That means that I am working and earning money. We decide what loads we take by how much PROFIT we will earn and we are making a profit. I know that makes the socialists mad, TOO BAD. I will continue to earn a profit and move on to another business when I can't. And if the socialists get thier way and there is no way to make a profit I will become on of the bums that I have been supporting my enitre working life. Layoutshooter

 

[ratwell71]

The answer to this issue is a cure to the dwindling dollar.

I answered the question of how it feels: I said it is sickening. I added the issue relating to the high price of fuel.

Fuel is the American truck driver's biggest expense. If you feel you will continue to make a profit when fuel prices continue to rise I want to work for your company. Because they evidently are not lowering their tariffs when adding a fuel surcharge like mine is.

God bless the working man!

 

[greg334]

Bio-Fuel is running up the price of food all over the world, and it will get worse. There is not enough land to grow fuel and food.

Actually there is a lot of land that is either built on for new housing and buildings or not used at all.

I look at the housing 'crisis' and wonder if there is such a glut of housing, why is there a lot of building still going on?

I read somewhere that in one area, they have one part of a town where the there are a lot of empty houses and on the other part of town, they are still building condos next to a bunch that still haven't been sold.

What gets me about small farms is we will come to a point that people will return to the need of small gardens or truck farms but right now there is no need. God if you look at the vacant land in Detroit alone and see what can be used to support the people that are left, there is a lot of land there that can be used for farming.

Coal to gas/diesel holds some promises but I haven't heard much about west Virginia's pilot program in a long time. Maybe we need to go back to digester's and run our cars on wood?

 

[layoutshooter]

There is a plant being built in NE PA that will be truning waste coal into gas. Another plant being built in MT. I think they will be producing diesel. There are already piplines in that area. Coal can make a huge dent in our oil needs. For now at least. We need something new. No matter what we do it most likely will cost more. As to the dollar. It will come back. Just as is has everytime it dropped low before. This is nothing new. It dropped a ton when I was stationed in England back in the late 70's. By the time I left in '81 it was back up. These things happen. I even have a record, called "The Americans" done by a Canadian DJ from CKLW, a Windsor Canada station. I think the guy recorded it in 74 or 75. He was trying to make us in the US feel better about the weak dollar, our high interest rates etc. He was also knocking his fellow countrymen for gloating on our mis-fortunes. There is little new under the sun. I have seen all of this before. If I live long enough I will see it all again. It is not time to panic. By the way I was paying over $3 per gallon of fuel in England back in 1976. For as high is our fuel is it is still low compared to most of Europe. We are not really in bad shape as a country. Do not listen to the panice mongers. We have not even gone into a ression yet. We might. We might not. Seen them before too. There are some old songs from back in the late '50's urging people to go out and buy a car or other large items to get the economy moving again. '58 saw a big recession. So did '73-'77. Nothing near like that now. And remember, every so called bad thing that happens is just an opportunity to get ahead. If not in this business, another. Layoutshooter

 

[Crazynuff]

The high costs of food are more for ethanol than diesel but we are also letting foreign demand push prices up much more than we should allow . Remember how low corn prices got when Katrina stopped the export capabilities ? I've been very disturbed reading of KY having business offices in China and making arrangements to sell coal to China . Ownensboro Grain also built a new biodiesel plant - conveniantly located on the Ohio River so barges could be loaded with biodiesel could be sold and shipped to cruise lines . How much lower would our prices be if we took care of our needs here and let foreignors go elsewhere for their supplies ? But if we must sell to China and Europe make them pay the higher demand . Our demand for commodities hasn't really gone up so why charge us for increased demand . Simply put if we have an increased demand of 5% for something and China has a 25% increase charge each accordingly , don't charge us too much and China too little . I guess that makes too much sense to be reasonable .
I also heard Neil Boortz say filling a car's gas tank with ethanol requires the amount of corn that would feed a child in a 3rd world country for a year . Why are people in these countries breeding like rabbits when they don't have a sufficient food supply ? Maybe requiring having a proportionate number of tubes tied to the amount of food rationed would lessen
the world hunger problem considerably . Again , too much logic there .

 

[layoutshooter]

China has forced abortion and sterilasation. They have also killed untold numbers of thier citizens. Russia killed 25 million during the '60's and 70's. Hitler killed over 12 million. Over a million were killed in Cambodia. All this was done in the name of socialism. A leader or leaders all thought they knew what was best for the people and then inforced it. Let the market work. Prices will even out. New fuels will be found. Corn dropped in price in this country partially do to over production. Some, not all, farmers went under do to poor money management, improper land usasge and farming methods. Many prospered. They grew different crops that consumers were demanding. The market works. Get government out of as much as we can. A good government sucks, it gets worse from there. Layoutshooter

 

[ratwell71]

There are solutions to every problem. Sitting on our hands does nothing to solve the problem.

Change is a thing that people reject when they are comfortable with what they are used to. I am not comfortable with the way things are so I am ready for a change to happen in our political system. I am not concerned with who is President as much as I am concerned with who we put into Congress. These people are not the true representation of the working class people here in America. I love my country and I have served my country. All people of the U.S. deserve better.

The working man has supported this government for a very long time and I think it is time for this same government to start listening to its people.

Waiting for our government to fix itself is not the answer. Just because these same things have happened in the past does not mean that we should not come up with a solution to keep them from happening in the future. We saw this coming with the depletion of fossil fuel. It is important for us to keep filling in the potholes that are left in our laws for our legislative body to interpret laws to their liking and benefit.

I know what happened in the 70's with the fuel lines and the shortage of fuel. We did not fix the problem then and we are doing nothing now. Like I said, sitting around and waiting for our government to come up with a fix is not the answer. The problem lies with the dwindling dollar.

The way our governemnt comes up with a solution is to play around with the interest rates. Hello, this the reason we are in so much trouble now. Giving the Federal Reserve more power to print more money and play with interest rates is not a cure to the problem. It just brings prices down just long enough for the people to forget the real issue/problem. And that is the dollar is worthless. Yes, it will go back up in value eventually, but like I said we will see this happen again when they start playing with the interest rates again.

It is time for us to demand that our dollar is backed by something of value. Place a cap on interest rates and put an end to greed.

Consumers are part of the problem. How many people can afford to go on vacation right now? I bet not too many but they choose to spend what little savings they have and put the rest on credit cards. Does this help you as an individual? No. It is consistent with the law of supply and demand which lends itself to greed. We help feed the big companies while we get poorer.

So with that said, we need to be part of the solution.

 

[dabluzman1]

Actually there is a lot of land that is either built on for new housing and buildings or not used at all.

Way back in 1970 my economics prof at kent state bemoaned the fact that we build houses
and roads on some of the most productive land we own.
He also decried the burning of one of the most, yet limited, resources we have, oil.
We all look about us today and wonder what is going on with diesel prices. This is a much
older topic than today, the past month, year and even decade.
Make sure you look in the mirror when casting blame.
What!!!!!!!! I'm including you too???????
Yep, did you EVER idle a truck, run faster than 55 mph, keep home thermostats to warm in the winter, to cool in the summer, leave lights on 24/7?
WHOAAAAAA , but now when oil is being priced over $100/barrel we question the audacity
of such lunacy.
We have all brought us to the brink by ignoring the voice of reason for decades.
We shall reap as we sown.

 

[greg334]

dabluzman1

I agree, I am part of the problem. I always been concern with mileage of my vehicles. I watched people who were in the 70's complain about the price of gas when it was 30 cents a gallon and their cars got less than 17 on the highway. I remember driving a 1952 Cadillac that for what ever reason got 20 mpg when it was driven sanely, and reading the notes of the original owner who was 60 when he bought it, he complained about the price of fuel. This is why for a few years I was making biodiesel even though I could afford buying it at $1.65 a gallon but I never marketed high priced kits like others who never made the stuff are doing. I am one of these people who do care but until there is serious changes to things that govern us, I don't see real solutions.

I agree that we have had the warnings from the 'experts' for a long time but it goes back to the 1930s not the 70's. I remember reading a piece form Standard Oil dated 1938 about the concerns of oil from the middle east and dutch east indies. That piece was about war in the pacific and how it would effect us long term if we didn't drill more. 1938 or 2008, it is all the same thing.

We must decide on if we want perfect environment or an economy that works. What is in the pipeline for us is ruinous at best if we continue down the path of radical environmentalism and more controls on our lifestyle and standard of living.

The solutions are clear, get government out of oil and every other business, let the market work as it has until the 30's when FDR tried to control it and don't fall for the BS about Global Warming.

What many need to do is read the forgotten man, it is a good book that is an accurate account of what and why FDR did what he did and why we need to get government out of our lives.

We all can make improvements, we all can make adjstments, but until there is a real need for it, people will ignore it. $5 a gallon for gas is about right for them to wake up, $5 a gallon for fuel is about right to thin out the trucking industry and get rates adjusted.

As for me, I already plan on putting a 12 volt system in my house, I also want to get an electric car for my wife (she drives the same place everyday) but alas, I am a poor expediter.

 

[nightcreacher]

Maybe I'm all wet,but the prices of gas and fuel isn't because there is a shortage.Have you seen any gas stations saying they are out of fuel.there are stations closed cause of bad business decissions,and not having the money to pay for tha gas or fuel.Right now you see more oil wells pumping as the price of crude is sky high.The places ive fond bio fuels,well their prices are even higher,not at the pump,but because you get less miles out of a gallon of fuel.Of course another reason for loss mileage is the EPA,stopping that global warming.Wander if that was warming, the snow we had this past winter,still snowing in some places.Thank the oil speculators,the need for fuel overseas,and the deminished dollar.I don't see any change insite.